On 7th January, after noticing a lump in our two-year-old son Luca’s testicles, and multiple scans and tests, the call finally came. The tumour was cancerous.

Luca was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare childhood cancer. From that point, everything moved quickly. We attended clinic meetings, absorbed overwhelming amounts of information, and watched our calendar fill with hospital appointments.

Looking back, it truly felt like a whirlwind. But among the chaos, there was hopeful news. Every scan came back clear. The tumour had been completely removed, with no abnormal cells left behind and no signs of spread. Doctors reassured us that it had been in a “favourable place” — words we clung to tightly.

Despite surgery, multiple scans, general anaesthetics and chemotherapy, he remained incredibly resilient. People often ask how he copes, expecting stories of sickness and fatigue. Instead, he’s still running around, laughing, playing, and being his cheeky, energetic self. Children truly are remarkable.

As parents, we were exhausted, but having routine helped. The early days — full of uncertainty and waiting — were by far the hardest. Once we knew what we were dealing with, we shifted into survival mode. Luca was just two when he was diagnosed and turned three during treatment.

We’ve have been incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received. The medical teams have been outstanding, and charities like Abby’s Heroes have provided invaluable support which is why we have set up this named fund in Luca’s Name.